Joint seal



Aug' 10, 1954 J. H.l BOOTH 2,686,070

JOINT SEAL Filed Aug. 4, 1949 Hive,

Patented Aug. 10, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOINT SEAL James H. Booth, Venice Township, Shiawassee County, Mich., assignor to Thompson Products, Inc., Cleveland, |Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application August 4, 1949, Serial No. 108,551

Claims. l

This invention relates to a seal construction for oscillatory joints, such as universal joints. Specifically, the invention relates to a seal structure for tie rod joints. The seal construction embraces a stud element of the tie rod joint and has a part seated on the joint housing coacting with the stud embracing part so as to effectively seal the joint housing from the entry of dust and water even during tilting and turning movement of the stud member.

In accordance with this invention, the socket or housing member receives, in snug slidably fitting relation over one end thereof, a stamped metallic member which is contoured to substantially conform to the contour of the end of the housing. This end of the housing is open and has a stud member projecting therethrough, the stud member having one end disposed within the housing for bearing contact during tilting and rotating movement.

The aforementioned stamping member has an inturned lip dening a central aperture which, in normal position of the stamping in relation to the housing, is concentric to the opening at the end of the housing. The stud projects freely through the opening defined by the inturned lip on the stamping. A second stamping member snugly and slidably fits over the first stamping member and has a central upturned lip portion dening an aperture therethrough, the lip portion snugly embracing the shank of the aforementioned stud. A rubber-like deformable plastic -or washer member ts on top of the second stamping and embraces the lip portion thereof and the stud shank. A third stamping member snugly embraces the stud shank and is cupshaped with a flat bottom to receive the rubberlike washer. A linkage member is secured to the end of the stud, loading the cup-shaped stamping against the washer with considerable force thus deforming the washer so it will seal the stud shank and exert compressive forces against the lower stampings, thereby eiiectively sealing them.

When the stud is tilted to a position other than normal to the housing, the second mentioned stamping, the washer and the cupped stamping move simultaneously with the stud and the first mentioned stamping moves with the stud when the stud contacts a portion of its inturned lip. During such tilting movement, the second mentioned stamping vslides over the first in a telescoping manner. The tilting movement of the stud and joint seal construction isarrested when the inturned lip `of the'first mentioned stud comes to rest against the shoulder defining the periphery of the open end of the housing.

The invention will hereinafter be specifically described as embodied in such a tie rod joint, wherein the joint housing is secured to a tie rod and a linkage member of an automotive vehicle steering control unit is attached to the stud, but it should be understood that the seal of this invention may be utilized in many installations and therefore the invention is not limited for usage with tie rod joints.

It is, then, an object of this invention to provide a dust cap and seal for tie rod joints which seals the joint socket from the entry of dust and liquid while allowing full tilting and rotating movement of the joint assemblage.

Another object of `the invention is Yto provide a dust cover and seal construction for a universal joint which is so tted to the joint as to prevent the escape of lubricant from Within the joint housing while preventing the entry of dust and liquid into the joint housing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a universaljoint seal construction which may be economically manufactured and assembled.

A speciiic object of the invention is to provide a tie rod joint seal wherein the opening to the joint housing is covered by a plurality of tele-- coping metallic members pressured through a rubber-like washer member.

Other and further objects of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the annexed sheet of drawings which forms a part of this specification and discloses a preferred embodiment of the invention.

On the drawings:

Figure 'l is a vertical cross-sectional View, with parts in elevation, of a tie rod joint and joint seal constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1 with the parts in exploded relation to indicate the assembly of the joint and seal construction.

Figure 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1,'but showing the stud element of the joint in extreme tilted position.

As shown on the drawings:

In Fig. 1 and the vother iigures, the reference numeral iii designates generally a tie rod joint housing or socket and the reference numeral i2 designates generally va stud element tiltable and rotatable in the housing or socket l0.

The housing lli is of substantially cylindrical configuration and has arounded end portion [9a dening a stud end opening lllb. The housing I has a lateral stem or shank portion Illc which may be threaded or otherwise secured to the end of a tie rod (not shown). The housing has an internal bore I 8d which communicates with the stud opening Iib and also communicates with another opening Ille at the opposite end of the housing Il. The end defining the opening Ille has a countersunk portion If (as best seen with reference to Fig. 2) for a purpose which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The aforementioned stud I2 has a shank portion I2a terminating in a rounded head I2b disposed within the central bore Id. The head I2b is substantially semispherical and of a diameter Substantially greater than the diameter of the stud shank i211. The head i2?) has a flattened upper portion or shoulder I2C adjacent the shank 12a which is embraced at this point by a washer member Ill. The washer member I4 bears against a bearing element IS which also embraces the shaft 42a. of the stud i2 adjacent the above washer It. The bearing element I 5 is of segmental spherical conguration to bear against a segmental spherical bearing surface Iilg on the inner side of the rounded portion Ilia of the housing IB.

A seating element I8 having a centrally located dimple I 8a is freely disposed within the cavity Kid for seating the stud head IZb on the dimple Ita. A coiled spring 2i) is disposed between the underside of the seating element lila and an end closure member 22 which is retained in the countersink Hij by spinning or peening the lower portion of the housing I0 inwardly to define the inturned ange Ille. The pressure of the coil spring 2Q forces the seating member I8, the stud I2, the washer i4 and the bearing element i6 upwardly to contact the segmental spherical bearing surface illy of the housing IG.

Bearing contact between the element I5 and bearing surface Ig occurs throughout all rotating and tilting (as demonstrated in Fig. 3) movements of the stud I2. The movements of the stud i2 are caused by forces applied to a linkage member 24 embracing the tapered portion I2d of the stud i2, The stud I2 is threaded at its external end adjacent the tapered portion 12d to receive a retaining nut 26 thereon which holds the linkage 2d in place.

A dust cover unit indicated generally by the reference numeral 28 closes the upper restricted opening Ib of the housing I il and is disposed about the stud shank 12a between the linkage 24 and the housing I0.

The dust cover and seal unit 28 comprises a lower metallic cover member 36 and an intermediate cover member 32 and an upper cover member 34, and a gasket 35 interposed between the intermediate and upper cover members. The lower cover member 38 is an annular sheet metal stamping of segmental spherical conguration having an inturned ange portions 36a denning the central aperture. The stamping loosely embraces tlie stud shank i2a and its inner surface rests atop the rounded portion Illa of the housing for sliding contact therewith. The intermediate stamping 32 is annular having an outturned ange 32a defining a central aperture and snugly embracing the stud shank I2a. The stamping 32 is of segmental spherical conguration resting atop the lower stamping 30 for sliding or telescoping contact therewith. The metallic stamping 3d is annular, dening a central opening 34a for embracing the stud shank I2a. The top of the member 3i is iiattened, the outer periphery being rounded for retaining the rubber-like gasket member 36. The gasket 36 has a central aperture 38a for tightly embracing the shank I2a and is of substantially cylindrical configuration before being deformed upon assembly in the unit 28. In assembly the stamping 34 retains the gasket 36 and is pressed downwardly by the linkage member 213 to deform the gasket 36 about the intermediate stamping 32. The deformation causes tighter sealing contact between the gasket 36 and the stud shank i2a and causes pressure to bear against the stampings 32 and 30.

The aforementioned pressure upon the stampings 3i] and 32 effectively seals their contact with one another and the housing It. When the stud is initially tilted by forces on the linkage member 2d, the stampings 32, 34 and the gasket 36 move with the stud I2 as a unit, the member 32 sliding about the lowermost stamping 3Q. When the stud has been suiciently tilted, the shank I2@ comes in contact with the inturned ange portion 30a of the stamping 3G and causes movement of the stamping 3c about the rounded portion ia of the housing iii. As illustrated in Fig. 3, the stud has been completely tilted to the right, the stamping 38 being telescoped about the housing lil to the far right and the stamping 32 being telescoped about the stamping 30 to the far right- This point of complete tilting movement is reached when the flange 38a of the stamping 3i) abuts the shoulder of the housing I0 defining the opening Iib. The shoulder of the housing is the innermost portion Ih of the rounded portion ita.

It is obvious from the aioredescribed assembly of the elements, that the seal unit 2S seals the stud opening of the joint at the shank of the housing and at the outer periphery of the housing opening, while the stud element is in either normal or tilted position. The sealing occurs about the shank of the stud by sealing contact of the rubber-like gasket member and at the opening of the housing by pressure contact of a plurality of telescoping sheet metal stampings.

It will be equally obvious that similar or identical seal units may be employed to seal the stud openings of a stud joint assembly which utilizes a plurality of studs. The sealing is effective to prevent the entry of dust or fluid to the joint housing about the stud elements.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be eiected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

l. A joint comprising a housing provided with means for connection to a tie rod or the like, a stud element projecting from one end of said housing through an opening in the wall thereof, bearing means associated with the internally disposed end of said stud element and said housing, a plurality of annular segmental spherical cover members embracing the projecting end portion of said stud element in telescoping relation adjacent said housing, the innermost of said cover members being slidable on said housing and having a downwardly formed inner rim portion loosely surrounding the stud, said downwardly deformed rim being engageable with the inner edge of said opening in said housing to limit movement of the innermost cover member on the housing to prevent unsealing movement of said innermost cover member therefrom, and means for retaining said cover members in snug telescoped relation with each other and with said housing.

2. A tie rod joint comprising an open ended housing provided with means for connection to rim about the inner periphery of the inner cover member loosely embracing said stud element and adapted to engage the stud opening of said housing to provide a stop for preventing unsealing of the cover, an axially outwardly formed rim about the inner periphery of the adjacent cover member snugly tting said stud element, and a downturned rim about the outer periphery of said cap, said downturned rim embracing and compressing the outer periphery of said resilient member so as to deform said resilient member inwardly and downwardly upon the application of pressure to the top of said cap while restraining radial deformation, thereby sealing said stud element and said plastic member and creating sealing pressure between said covers and said housing.

3. A tie rod joint comprising a housing having an open end defined by a segmental spherical portion of said housing and being provided with means for connection to a tie rod or the like, a stud element freely proj eoting from said open end, bearing means associated with said stud element and said housing, a rst annular cover member freely embracing said stud element, a downwardly turned rim on the inner periphery of said cover member for contacting the inner edge of the open end of the housing to limit telescoping movement of said cover member and tilting movement of said stud element, a second annular cover member snugly embracing said stud element and contacting said first cover'member in a telescoping manner, a deformable resilient annular member snugly embracing said stud element adjacent said second cover member, and an annular cap snugly embracing said stud element adjacent said resilient member, said cap having a cupped rim embracing and compressing the outer periphery of said resilient member so as to deform said plastic member inwardly and downwardly substantially about said second annular cover member when pressure is applied to said cap to thereby maintain a heavy controlled pressure against said cover members to maintain them in sealing condition.

4. In a universal joint seal comprising a plurality of segmental spherical annular members in superimposed position about a stud projecting from said joint, the innermost of said members having engagement structure to engage said joint and prevent unsealing thereof, an annular deformable resilient member providing a seal between said members and said stud, and an annular metal cap member superimposed on said deformable member and said segmental spherical members for retaining said members in sealed relation, said annular metal cap member having a downturned rim terminating substantially above said segmental spherical annular members and cooperating with the outer peripheral edge of the deformable member to compress the deformable member and confine its flow under compression to movement downwardly and outwardly only between the downturned rim and the adjacent segmental spherical annular member to urge the outermost of said segmental spherical members into sealing engagement with the remaining segmental spherical members.

5. A seal for an oscillatory joint of the type having a housing with a segmental spherically shaped open end enclosing a freely movable stud element including a bearing face complementally shaped to the inner surface of the segmental spherical end of said housing and a shank exu tending through the opening in said housing, a plurality of telesooping relatively movable annular elements complementally shaped to each other and to the exterior segmental spherical end of said housing, the inner of said annular elements loosely embracing the shank of said stud element and the outer of said annular elements snugly embracing the shank of said stud element, a readily deformable resilient washer element positioned over said outer annular ele nient snugly iitting against said stud shank and confined against radially outward and upward expansion by an annular cap member having a downwardly extending marginal ilange terminating substantially above said relatively movable annular elements and coacting with the outer periphery of the washer element, means acting downwardly upon said annular cap to compress and thereby urge said washer element inwardly against said stud shank and downwardly into snug compressive cooperation with said outer relatively movable annular member.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,051,025 Spicer Jan. 2l, 1913 1,223,524 Rosenberg Apr, 2li, 1917 2,083,718 Kull et al June 15, 1937 2,110,561 Stephens Mar. S, 1938 2,115,087 Schaefer Apr. 26, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 690,570 Germany of 1940 690,752 Germany of 1940 714,170 Germany of 1941 

